Rich Paul’s story has already been covered once by Vice.com prior to the trial and now journalist Harry Cheadle has a couple more questions for Rich. I went to the Keene Spiritual Retreat aka the Cheshire “House of Corrections” to ask him the questions on video:
A crowd of about 100 people gathered to celebrate the 4/20 holiday at 4:20pm in front of the state house in Concord this evening. This years’ event was hosted by the NH Teapot Party, covering for the usual organizing of the 420 Foundation. Rich Paul, founder of the 420 Foundation and outspoken opponent of the war on drugs was convicted on Thursday afternoon by jury on multiple counts of cannabis distribution. He remains detained while awaiting sentencing, and today marked the first annual celebration without Rich since the rallies began in 2010.
While Rich was blasting his ideas through a bullhorn last year, the New Hampshire Drug Task Force as well as the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force were conducting an investigation into Rich’s not-so-discrete sale of cannabis. Multiple purchases totaling 81 years of prison time were made through a confidential informant who himself had been busted for heroin distribution. Despite the questionable ethics and honesty of the DTF, FBI, and the confidential informant, the jury did not find Rich’s victimless crime worthy of nullification. Unlike many involved in the drug trade, who profit from actions that they hide from public scrutiny, Rich’s openness made him an easy target, though he was incorrectly profiled as an easy mark. When told that his charges would go away if he would incriminate others for the FBI and DTF, Rich courageously stood on principle and said, ‘No’. In a way, Rich is going to jail in place of the unknown others whom he chose not to involuntarily substitute for his position. (more…)
Here is audio from day 3 of Rich’s Paul trial for distribution of cannabis. Audio from the second day is not available as the doors were locked between breaks and only unlocked while court was not in session. Audio from day 3 covers closing arguments and the jury’s delivery of the verdict.
In yet another sad jury decision, activist Rich Paul, the creator of the historic 420 celebrations in downtown Keene, was found guilty of multiple felony counts of selling cannabis to other consenting humans and one count of selling a substance prosecutors said he claimed was LSD. (Paul never claimed the substance was LSD but that didn’t matter to the jury.)
As is so typical, the jurors left the building together for protection from the raining questions from people who love the peaceful human the jurors sent to a cage. Not one juror would take $20 for a five minute interview.
However, there was one juror willing to speak, albeit only for a moment. He admits when asked why he didn’t make history today, that “We didn’t want to break the law.” and then accuses me of threatening him. He then gets into a dark blue minivan with a Romney sticker, tinted windows, and the license plate FISHERS:
They took three hours, so presumably some of the jurors were voting not guilty, but were turned. (more…)
UPDATE 4/17: Rich’s trial for selling cannabis resumes at 9a. As you may already be aware, Rich is heroically facing 81 years in prison for selling cannabis. He has refused the plea deals and will be facing trial by jury.
I will be posting updates to the Free Keene facebook page (please click like, then hover over the liked button and select “Get Notifications” to be sure you see all FK posts to facebook), which will be automatically syndicated here via the Free Keene twitter:
The trial of Rich Paul continues into its third day. While the public waits on the full video, here is audio of the first day’s proceedings courtesy Free Concord:
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